High purity water and metals recovery from lithium-ion battery recycling stream

diagram shows process scheme for combined water-selective extraction and DME-FC — Process scheme for combined water-selective extraction and DME-FC

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Innovation
Dimethyl ether (DME) used to remove water and crystallize solids from a Ni-rich recycling stream derived from electrochemical leaching of lithium-ion battery (LIB) black mass.

Achievement
Production of high purity and low-moisture solid (metal content 98.3% nickel) and highly purified water.

Significance and Impact
Opportunity to achieved closed loop water reuse during critical materials processing.

Hub Target Addressed
Advancing environmentally friendly and efficient recovery of critical materials from end‐of‐life energy storage devices

two-part image shows AAS results for original leachate, dissolved solid product, and extracted water (Concentrations in mg/L and metal weight percent. Colors indicate initial concentration (green), decline in concentration (red), and increase in concentration (blue)) , and the Low-Moisture Solid Product — Table shows AAS results for original leachate, dissolved solid product, and extracted water (Concentrations in mg/L and metal weight percent. Colors indicate initial concentration (green), decline in concentration (red), and increase in concentration (blue)). Inset image shows Low-Moisture Solid Product